Interview with Marshall LaCount of Dark Dark Dark
Prior to the band returning home to the Twin Cities from an extensive European tour, Culture Bully’s Jon Behm was able to catch up with Dark Dark Dark’s Marshall LaCount. Set to be joined by Dosh, who also appeared on the band’s recent album The Snow Magic, the band will be playing at The Cedar Cultural Center on December 27th.
Jon Behm: As a (relatively) new band it is kind of surprising that you are already in the midst of your first European tour. What prompted that?
Marshall LaCount: We were travelers before we were a “touring band,” and it feels good to be traveling with a project or some sort of intent, it helps us avoid permanent “tourism.” So our art and river raft collective, The Miss Rockaway Armada, got invited to the Netherlands for a project, and we had previously released an EP in France on What A Mess! Records, in Toulouse, and it seemed like two good excuses to play music. Tour is sometimes used with license, because when it is not formally organized, it can be very unpredictable and ragtag in terms of performances. We treat “official” shows and “unofficial” shows pretty equally, unless there is a dog that has fleas in the venue, or there is beer spilling on us, then we act more like rock stars and get mad. Fortunately, Euro-tour 2008 is organized by someone that knows what they’re doing. He runs the label that released the EP for France and Europe.
JB: Your press release says that you draw heavily from the “long tradition of wandering musicians and those who have lived deeply.” What is it about the nomadic lifestyle that informs your music, and are you finding it on your current tour?
ML: It seems like right now we are in a sort of “endurance traveling” mode, where we’re out for eight months, working on five different projects. We gather stories, we hang out with people, we stay in any number of strange circumstances, see lots of beautiful and ugly things. I guess I don’t really remember the difference. We’ve gotten pretty good at trying to stay healthy on the road, physically and spiritually, but life on the road is hard, as you’ve heard in all those country songs. We’ve traveled so hard in the last couple years, that our family is spread out all over the place, so we’re often visiting family while on tour. We probably are finding “it” all the time. Also, our projects have lives of their own now, and we have to keep up with them.
JB: As far as songwriting goes, are you more productive on the road or when you are back in your (semi) permanent home of the Twin Cities?
ML: Nona and I would do anything to have one room for each of us, a permanent one. I would prefer mine was in Minneapolis, she may not. Jonathan and Todd are more reasonable, so they have rooms outside of our van, Vanny White. I personally don’t understand my productivity, because its always tricking me and doing the opposite of what I anticipate. Right now I am patient with that process and ready with a pen. Nona has been writing some hits lately!
JB: Now that you are headed back here, will you plan on staying awhile?
ML: Funny question, but Nona and I are planning some semi-quiet writing time in New Orleans for January and February – Todd will be editing his film in New York, and Jonathan will be making electronic art in Minneapolis.
JB: How did you end up hooking up with Martin Dosh and Rob Skoro to record The Snow Magic? (And did you ink the deal over beers at the 331 Club?)
ML: Well, Robert actually invented a drink at the 331 for me that is alcohol-free, called the Sizzler Special, its loaded with juices, primarily mango. Marty can’t handle the wheat, so if you see him, don’t buy him a beer, only hard cider. I think Nona and Todd prefer cranberry juice or something, and Jonathan will usually have a nice dark beer. Skoro and I became friends a few years ago, have some mutual friends, love to party, and have worked together in the past. He’s a great man. Marty might still be a mystery. I think a few years ago I dreamt it, and then he turned out to be as nice in real life as he is amazing on the stage. Marty isn’t full-time, but if we find a drummer or any other instrumentalist, its pretty important that they understand hip hop and experimentalism, as well as tradition. Have you heard Wolves and Wishes? I think its really come together again in a new way.
JB: The Snow Magic kind of makes me want to quit my job, grab a knapsack, and hit the road. Do you have any travel recommendations for a drifting vagabond?
ML: Respect yourself and the places and people you meet, wear fresh socks everyday, I don’t care how hard it seems to wash them, eat spinach or kale everyday, the summer is better than the winter for swimming, swim everyday in the summer, unless you’re in NYC, you will still need money, so you better have a skill on the road, like music or web design or tattooing.
JB: Do you have any particular recent adventures that you would like to share?
ML: Shooting Todd’s (the bassist) movie. Check it.
Dark Dark Dark “New York Song” [MP3]
Also: Marshall LaCount of Dark Dark Dark: Favorite Albums of the Decade